Medical negligence news

Laser surgery alert

Customers considering laser eye surgery are not being given good enough information about the possible risks involved.

This is the warning from consumer group Which? following a nationwide investigation of clinics offering laser eye treatments.

A spokesman for Which? in Somerset said: "Some high street clinics are giving unsatisfactory advice about the risks of laser eye surgery, and pressurising customers into treatment that costs much more than the advertised prices.

"More than half the clinics visited by our researchers gave unsatisfactory advice, and none of the consultations were rated as good by our panel of laser eye experts.

"Clinics played down the level and possible duration of risks and complications, which can include permanently poor night vision or some loss of sight in extreme cases.

"Almost half of our researchers weren't told that even if they had laser eye surgery, they would probably need glasses when they were older."

This investigation comes just two months after the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) issued a warning to Somerset residents about a lack of official regulation in the field of laser eye surgery, which meant that patients could end up being treated by doctors without the right skills or experience.

APIL chief executive Denise Kitchener said: "The fact that the industry is not regulated in any way is shocking. Someone who is inexperienced and has no specific training in this area can perform the surgery, and this means there is a huge disparity in the quality of treatment available."

Martyn Hocking, the editor of Which? magazine, said: "Laser eye surgery can be an attractive option for people who want to be free from glasses or lenses, and in most cases it gives good results with few side effects.

"But people need to be aware of the potentially serious and long-term risks, so that they have realistic expectations and commit to the procedure with their eyes open."

Created: 24/04/2009
Categories: Eye surgery